“Nice,” she says. “But we need to get to work. It isn’t just clothes. If we’re going to do this, you have to really play the part. You guys need to know random trivia about each other, and youneed to come up with a story on how you met. We need to make sure we sell this.”
I tilt my head curiously. “Wouldn’t we just say I saw her while working in your garden and fell madly in love with her or something?”
“No,” Lexie says firmly. “Sorry, but no. Brian only sees dollar signs. If we want him to be intimidated by you, you need to be older, hotter,andricher. Kira and I have enough money to help you play the part convincingly. We’ll say you’re, um, like, old money from Connecticut and you came here with your family to look at properties. Yeah! And…you saw Kira when she and I were…um…”
“I saw her at a cafe,” I offer, letting myself imagine a reality where I was suave and rich and straight and not broken even a little bit inside. “You were both having coffee after shopping or whatever, and I asked her on a date. When did the break-up with Brian happen?”
Kira looks a little shell-shocked, but manages to answer. “Over three months ago. I expected him to drop out of the Young Leaders Summit–it’s basically just a party anyway, and it’s not actually important. But he RSVP’d this morning. So now I have to see him every day for a week with his stupid friends and his new girlfriend. I never should’ve volunteered my uncle’s mansion for the venue. Now Ihaveto attend.”
“Three months is enough time,” I say. “More than enough time for you to be over Brian, and for me to realize I’ve found the girl of my rich-person dreams, and become devastatingly infatuated with you. When this is all over, you can say you needed someone better than me, broke my heart, and I am pining for you from afar, hoping you’ll one day change your mind. You’ll play it cool.”
“That seems a little mean,” Kira mumbles to herself, but Lexie ignores it.
“Oh, I love the way you think,” Lexie says to me. She scoots a little closer, her hazel eyes big and beseeching. “Are you sure you’re gay?”
“I’m positive,” I say with a laugh. “But, I mean, if we have a good time, we can always be friends. I love going dancing, if you two are ever up for a walk on the wild side of town. I’d keep you safe.”
Kira and Lexie look scandalized, as if what I just suggested was even crazier than this scheme we’ve cooked up. It makes me laugh, and Lexie gets stars in her eyes.
“He’s perfect,” she whispers fiercely, and if I were a regular guy, I’d probably be really intimidated by how intensely she’s staring at me. But I’m not a regular guy. Do they know that? Should I tell them? I guess they must realize it, since I’m agreeing to do this absolutely insane thing with them despite being a complete stranger.
Wait… Does that mean they aren’t normal, either?Maybe rich people are just so used to things going their way that to them, it’s inevitable that I would agree.
“Stay with us this weekend,” Lexie demands, putting her small hand on my forearm. “We’ll all get to know each other so we can sell it, and Brian will drop dead from jealousy.”
Her vindictive side appeals to me. “Alright, sure.”
It’s not like I need to check in with family or anything, since I don’t have any, and I don’t have close friends. Sure, some of my regular dance partners will wonder where I’m at, but sometimes I take a break from the club, so no one will really miss me. Most of my roommates will just be glad I’m not around to take up space and make them feel uncomfortable. Other than Joshy, they don’t really like me that much. Not only because it’s a cramped, dingy apartment for the number of people in it, but also because most people just…don’t. Like me, I mean. Oncethey spend enough time with me, everyone I meet just tends to back off.
I’m twitchy, a bit weird, unsettling… I scare people.
I’ll be on my best behavior.I don’t want to scare these innocent girls. They don’t deserve that.
Lexie whoops victoriously and puts her arms in the air like she’s calling a soccer goal.
Kira lets out a big, world-weary sigh and puts a hand over her eyes delicately, like she might faint. “I can’t believe you’re my best friend.”
“Believe it, baby,” Lexie says with a saucy snap. “And your bestie just got you a hot, gay fake boyfriend and we’re gonna make Brian eat his freaking heart out!”
Oh my god, she said freaking instead of fucking.I stare at her, astounded. For some reason,thatis the detail that proves to me just how different these girls are from me. We might only be four years apart in age, but I might as well be their grandpa with the life experience I have. I wrinkle my nose.Ew. Gross image.
“I’ve gotta get back to work,” I say after a minute of watching Lexie dance around Kira. “I need to finish all the planting today.”
“We’ll grab you before you leave for the day,” Lexie says decisively. “I need to start ordering! We’ll call the tailor!”
I give her a salute and jog back toward the outer edge of the lovely maze. As I work, I turn over the events in my mind and wonder if I made a good choice. I have a pretty strong inkling that I should’ve said no, just to be more normal.
Are these rich girls so out of touch with normality that they really aren’t wondering why I’m completely free to drop everything and just go along with this? Is that what their life is like? Do they realize I’m…not normal?
Maybe they don’t.
Oh well.Not my problem, I’m just here to have a good time and make more money in a week than I could in nearly a whole year.
Despite myself, I’m looking forward to it. It sounds like fun. And besides, Kira seems lovely. She just needs a confidence boost and I have no doubt she’ll bloom into a powerful young woman who handles herself just fine. Lexie is clearly her biggest supporter, and my lips turn up in a grin.
Yeah, it should be fun. After all, what could go wrong?
********
